1. Use of a Radiograph to Assist with Therapeutic Shoeing and Trimming
Debra R. Taylor, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Associate Professor
Department of Clinical Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine
Auburn University

2. Equine Podiatry The specialty dealing with the equine hoof
the hoof capsule
coronary band
all anatomical structures with in the hoof capsule
all tendons that affect the hoof
Requires the veterinarian and trimmer or farrier to work together

3. What does the horse need?
A veterinarian and a trimmer or farrier team who are willing to work together
A team that enjoys podiatry and is committed to doing their best work

4. What does a farrier or trimmer need from the veterinarian?
A veterinarian
who understands what is healthy and what is not
who understands diseases affecting the hoof
who can consistently take an informative radiograph of the foot
who is willing to work as part of a team
Take the time to show him the radiographs
Pre- and post- trimming or shoeing
Learn to speak the same language
Many overlapping terms

5. Why do you need a radiograph to monitor shoeing or trimming a horse?
“Quality radiographs are to podiatry what ultrasound is to reproduction”
Learning curve
Without ultrasound or radiographs
With ultrasound or radiographs
Ability to make a positive change
Time
Time

6. Traditional Radiography of the digit
Goals
To evaluate the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints, integrity of bony structures, and to view radiographic degenerative changes in the foot.

7. Traditional Radiography
Beam focused at coronary band
Foot packed
Ground surface not always demarcated
Dorsal hoof wall marked with rigid object
Apex of frog and heels not marked
Hoof not always directly against cassette

8. Is this what we are after?

9. Lacks information for the farrier trimmer!

10. Radiographic GOALS Consistent informative films
Take the same view every time
Ability to monitor small changes with accuracy
Evaluate the soft tissues of hoof
Evaluate P3’s relationship to capsule and ground
Evaluate how the bone and the soft tissues relate to each other
How the bone and soft tissue relate to the ground
Learn common parameters of breeds
What is common is not necessarily healthy
Horses have only rarely been bred for hoof quality
Popular breeds are notorious for poor hoof health

11. Radiography for Shoeing and Trimming
Center on bottom of P3, not coronary band
measure sole depth
Palmar/plantar angle
medial to lateral balance of P3
Clearly demarcate (with barium paste)
Dorsal hoof wall – care to start paste exactly on hairline
Lateral heel bulb – care to start paste exactly on hairline
Apex of frog
Clearly demarcate ground surface – lead in wooden block
Hoof touching cassette
Heel bulbs parallel to primary beam and perpendicular to cassette
Do not pack the foot
Measure sole depth
Standardize distance from film to machine

12. Methods Center on bottom of P3 Barium paste on dorsal hoof wall
Blocks match machine
metal wire in top
Barium paste on dorsal hoof wall
Barium on apex of frog
Barium on heel

13. Much better Centered bottom of P3 Dorsal hoof wall marked
Ground Surface Marked
Not packed
Heel marked
Apex marked
Note: -ok that bone is too light, not as worried about boney detail here as relationship of the bone to the soft tissues and ground
NOTE: Trimmers and farriers appreciate viewing the hoof in the direction it
would be if they were looking at the horse, RF point toe to right, LF point toe to left

14. Equine Podiatry Radiology
Primary beam is 1 cm off top of blocks
Build blocks to match your machine so can
Set the machine on the ground and horse
Will be in correct positions
NOTE: need two blocks
So horse is standing level

15. Breakover
Breakover
Maybe give more examples of breakover (more normal ones)

16. Podiatry Radiology Measurements
Breakover
- The horizontal distance from the tip P3 to where the hoof “breaks over” or pivots.
0 – 3.5 cm is ideal, depending on the horse
optimizing breakover
decreases sheer force on P3 and hoof wall
decreases tendon and muscle strain
Add word “pivot” change anatomical terms decreases sheer

17. Palmar/plantar Angle
Need to measure angle (or find it).

18. Podiatry Radiology Measurements
Palmar Angle
The angle that is formed from the palmar/plantar surface of P3 and the ground ° degrees normal (Adams)
What are good palmar angles?

19. Sole Depth

20. Podiatry Radiology Measurements
Sole Depth
Soft tissue opacity just distal to the plantar surface of P3
The sole should be greater than 10mm in depth.

21. Horn: Laminar Zone

22. Podiatry Radiology Measurements
Horn: Laminar Zone
Distance from the dorsal hoofwall to the dorsal surface of P3.
Measured at both the dorsal proximal and dorsal distal ends of the foot.
Should be uniform and < 20 mm

23. CE Zone
Check to make sure this is correct… what does it mean if this is greater than 1cm….????

24. Podiatry Radiology Measurements
CE Zone
- The CE Zone is the vertical distance between the Coronary Band and the Extensor Process.
Ideally < 1cm.
Need great care in marking the hairline, because plan to monitor change in this number
What are good palmar angles?

25. Cup
Check to make sure this is correct

26. Podiatry Radiology Measurements
Cup
The radiolucent area distal to the sole
Measure to the ground surface
Some horses have none
What are good palmar angles?

27. Bone Angle
Check to make sure this is correct

28. Podiatry Radiology Measurements
Bone Angle
Angle formed at the junction of the dorsal and palmar/plantar surface of P3
What are good palmar angles?

29. Parameters on a lateral view

30. Evaluation of Lateral View
Horn: Laminar Zone
Should be uniform ( < 20 mm)
CE zone - <1 cm
coronary band - extensor process
“halo effect”- coronary band invagination
Sole depth
mass (> 10 mm)
Cup
Black area between sole and ground surface

31. Evaluation Lateral View
Palmar Angle
Angle formed between palmar surface of P3 and ground
The horse wants it positive 3-9 º
Digital Breakover
distance from the tip of P3 to where hoof breaks forward
The horse wants it short, maybe even negative?
The horse wants it optimized.
Bone Angle
angle formed between dorsal and palmar surfaces of P3

32. Horse in a Cast with digital radiography

33. Anterior – Posterior projection
Looking for medial lateral balance of P3
Uniformity of joint spaces
Is the medial and lateral coronary band level
Evaluate growth rings if use barium

34. Anterior posterior view

35. Moral TAKE the radiograph the correct way Evaluate the parameters
Use the film to make goals
Evaluate whether goals were met
Work together!!!!